Monday, February 16, 2009

The first page, part 3 - Establish the protagonist

Your first paragraph (ideally—or at least the first several lines of the book) should mention one of the main protagonists by name.

The first page of the book is one place where you can break with deep point of view and mention the entire main character’s name, even though technically, in deep point of view, the main character would only think of him/herself by a first name.

This was not the smartest way to die.

USAF Pararescue Jumper Manny Péna grunted, tensed his muscles and tried again to flare the canopy on his parachute.

Now your outside looks like your inside—a black soul, an immoral soul, a horrified and horrifying soul, bound for the black pits, the depths of darkness, for eternity, ever and ever on.--Dead of Night by Brandilyn Collins

Look at your first page—do you establish the protagonist within the first few lines? Are you in the protagonist’s point of view?